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'Cats Improve to 5-0 in Nonconference Action, Defeat NIU 24-18
NU wins six bouts, including four with bonus points
EVANSTON,
Ill. – No. 19 Northwestern took a break from its Big Ten dual schedule
Friday night at and won its eighth match of the year, defeating
Northern Illinois, 24-18, at Welsh-Ryan Arena. The Wildcats won six of
10 bouts, including four with bonus points, improving to a perfect 5-0
in nonconference action.
Northwestern jumped out to a
commanding 17-3 lead before the break, winning four of the first five
bouts. No. 10 Levi Mele got things started for the ’Cats with a 3-0
decision over No. 20 Nick Smith at 125. Mele scored on a third-period
reversal and racked up 3:09 of riding time for his 23rd win of the year
and fourth over a ranked opponent.
True freshman Jameson
Oster kept the momentum alive for NU with an 11-2 major decision over
Rob Jillard at 133. Oster had a 6-0 lead early in the third period and
added two more takedowns along with 2:09 of riding time to give
Northwestern four team points and extend the lead to 7-0.
NIU
took a close 3-1 decision at 149 lbs., but Kaleb Friedley and No. 2
Jason Welch got the ’Cats back on the board before the break with bonus
points at 149 and 157, respectively. Friedley scored a 12-3 major
decision over Tyler Argue while Welch pinned Tyler Loethen in 5:13.
Friedley did most of his damage in the first period, taking a 7-1 lead
with two takedowns and three nearfall points. He then added two
reversals in the second and had 4:01 of riding time in the win. Welch
jumped out to a 7-0 lead before pinning Loethen in the third period.
Welch is now 18-0 on the year with bonus points in 12 of his victories.
The
’Cats continued their winning ways after the break with victories at
165 and 174 and took the 24-3 lead heading into the last three matches
of the evening. Pierce Harger scored an 8-0 major decision over Matt
Mougin at 165 while No. 12 Lee Munster defeated Caleb Busson 4-1 at 174.
NIU
won the final three bouts, but Northwestern emerged with the 24-18 dual
victory. NU redshirt senior Ben Kuhar wrestled in his first match of
the season, filling in for No. 13 Mike McMullan at heavyweight. Kuhar
put up a fight in his first appearance of the year, but Jared Torrence
won by fall in the closing seconds of the bout (6:48).
Northwestern
is off from competition the remainder of the weekend but returns to the
mat Saturday, Feb. 11 for its final road trip of the regular season.
The ’Cats visit Bules Creek, N.C., to wrestle North Carolina at 3:15
p.m. and Campbell at 5:15 p.m., wrapping up the nonconference portion
of their schedule.
No. 19 Northwestern 24, Northern Illinois 18
125: No. 10 Levi Mele (NU) dec No. 20 Nick Smith (NIU), 3-0 (3-0 NU)
133: Jameson Oster (NU) maj dec Rob Jillard (NIU), 11-2 (7-0 NU)
141: Kevin Fanta (NIU) dec Pat Greco (NU), 3-1 (7-3 NU)
149: Kaleb Friedley (NU) maj dec Tyler Argue (NIU), 12-3 (11-3 NU)
157: No. 2 Jason Welch (NU) pins Tyler Loethen (NIU), 5:13 (17-3 NU)
165: Pierce Harger (NU) maj dec Matt Mougin (NIU), 8-0 (21-3 NU)
174: No. 12 Lee Munster (NU) dec Caleb Busson (NIU), 4-1 (24-3 NU)
184: No. 18 Brad Dieckhaus (NIU) pins Marcus Shrewsbury (NU), 5:15 (24-9 NU)
197: Mike Lukowski (NIU) dec John Schoen (NU), 3-1 (24-12 NU)
Hwt: Jared Torrence (NIU) pins Ben Kuhar (NU), 6:48 (24-18 NU)
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